Growing Up Round 2

by Blackwolfhunting

Harry thought his life would get better after the war, that he would get to have a good time with his friends. "This isn't funny Ron!" "Still really small he is." "I heard that Ron!" That obviously isn't going to happen so all that's left for Harry to do is try and get better while trying not to strangle his friends and the Malfoys.

7. The Burrow

Chapter Seven

The Burrow

Harry's face turned from shock to rage and his wand was out pointing straight at Snape. "You're supposed to be dead you bastard."

"The news of my death was greatly exaggerated Mr. Potter…and from what I hear it was you who delivered that information to begin with." Snape stated as he stayed seated while Harry continued to glare at the man. "And with your constant ability to dramatize and exaggerate situations…well…I'm not surprised you told others that I was dead." He sneered at the young looking boy.

Harry could feel his brow twitching as he began to growl low in his throat. "I wouldn't have thought you were dead if you hadn't of played it so well." He shot back. "Though I have to admit…wanting to be dead after giving the most hated of people you know your memories…that must have killed you on the inside."

Snape's sneer turned into a scowl as he stood up from his seat and moved towards the raven haired teen. "What did you do with those memories anyways Potter? Showed them to all of your little friends? Showed the entire public and laughed at how kind your mother was to the despised potions master? Desecrate the memories that I had of your mother and I as friends?" He questioned angrily.

Harry's face turned a frightening pale color while his eyes darkened. Draco gulped from the look as he recognized it from the night of Dumbledore's death. He knew what the look brought and he was not interested in getting in the middle of Harry or Snape.

Lucius's own face showed his concern and anger towards both males as both were acting like little children fighting over a favored toy. He wanted to intervene but a shake of the head from his wife stopped him. So Lucius just sat back and watched the two with a keen eye, ready to throw a shield up with his drawn wand in case something happened.

Narcissa had her own worry but she felt that this could be the perfect opportunity to help Harry. It was obvious from all of Draco's stories of the going on at Hogwarts and Severus's anger towards the boy and insults all around the corner that the two had deep issues. All of which could be causing a good part of Harry's problem. This could be helpful to Harry's healing.

"Still think I'm self-absorbed with such a huge ego that I can't see in front of my eyes then Snape?" Harry spat as he gripped tighter onto his wand.

"That is Professor Snape to you Potter. And yes I do think that. Why would you not be with the defeat of the Dark Lord? All the cheering of your name and presents, marriage proposals, even job offers must be making your head bigger than it was before." Snape drawled out as he approached the boy and stopped about five feet from in front of him.

Harry snarled ferociously as his grip tightened so much on his wand that his knuckles popped. "First of all you are no longer my Professor….you great greasy bat of the dungeons! Second of all I hate all of the attention from defeating Voldemort! I've always hated it but then again your too big nose has blocked that from your little pea brain!" Harry snapped out.

Snape actually had to hold back a little smirk at Harry's comeback before shaking his head with a frown on his face. "It seems that Potter you might have done well in Slytherin…if it was not for such a lack of discipline and control." He drawled out.

Harry's mind snapped backwards in time at Snape's words…or four words. '…done well in Slytherin…' made Harry think back to his second year down in the Chamber of Secrets and then back to his first year at the Sorting.

Tom Riddle had said that they were similar…practically saying that he would have done well in Slytherin as well if he had been sorted there.

The hat telling him he'd do well in Slytherin…with his ambition and determination to be the best and show what he could do…until he had been sorted into Gryffindor.

Harry's eyes clenched closed as his teeth ground together and then slowly Harry opened his eyes back up. "Incendio!" Harry shouted at he threw the spell at the Potions Master.

Snape's eyes widened slightly in surprise as he deflected the spell before scowling. "Really Potter, losing control already?" He questioned with a raised brow.

Harry didn't reply as he began to shout out spells one after another at the Potions Master, not caring that his spells were being deflected and heading towards the Malfoys, all of who were putting up their own spells to protect themselves.

"I knew this would happen." Draco said as he watched Harry throw spell after spell. "He had that look in his eyes like he did in school when he was close to having enough."

"Though I can't help but think that this was in a long way coming." Narcissa said as she sipped at her tea while a spell bounced off of her shield. "This should hopefully help with the stress that he's been having lately."

Lucius scowled as his table was snapped in half and his walls blackened with damage. He threw an aguamenti at the curtains as they were set on fire. "Yes well…the two of them are going to burn down the mansion at this rate…I'd rather not have them do so."

"I don't think that'll be a problem father." Draco said as his brow furrowed as he pointed at Harry, who was sweating heavily at this point and panting just as bad. "Somethings wrong."

The Malfoy parents looked at the boy as well and frowned as they realized that there really was something wrong. The boy was already covered in sweat when both knew that he could last hours firing spell after spell. But Harry was already showing signs of fatigue and loss of power. Then they noticed something else.

"Was his clothes that large on him before?" Lucius asked as he glanced towards his wife.

"No, they were made to fit him perfectly…it should not be that loose on him." Narcissa informed as she watched with wide eyes as the Man-who-conquered literally shrunk in front of him. "Severus! You have to stop him right now!" She called out to the Potions Master.

Snape glanced back at them before looking back at Harry just in time to see an Expelliarmus flying at him. He smirked as he decided that that would be the perfect spell to rebound at the teen. That was exactly what he did as well.

Harry could only glare as Snape sent his spell back at him and due to his exhaustion he was unable to dodge or shield against the spell and not only lost his wand but was sent flying backwards, stopping just at the entrance of the dining room. "Now that is done with." Snape said as he turned towards the Malfoy family with a raised brow. "Why did you wish for him to be stopped now when you could have had him stopped when he was lighting your dining room on fire?"

Narcissa ignored Snape as she ran over to Harry's side with Lucius and Draco on her heels. She got to him quickly as he hadn't moved at all since hitting the floor, he just stayed where he was breathing deeply. "Oh Harry." Narcissa sighed as she looked at the little boy swamped in the clothes he wore. "You've reverted even more."

"Shut up." Harry ground out as he continued to take deep breaths. He didn't look at the Lady Malfoy and ignored how Draco and Lucius came up to him next while Snape stayed standing over the Malfoy family and he.

"It seems Potter that you have shrunken…" Snape drawled out in confusion, staring at what he remembered the boy to look back in the boy's first year. "Obviously it is not the first time."

"Shut up." Harry spat out once more as he forced his sore and tired body to move and was soon on his feet and out of the dining room in mere seconds.

The Malfoys and Snape all stood staring after the boy for long moments before Narcissa stood up and brushed off her dress. "Well…it seems that we have more work to do now than we thought before." She stated as she turned to her husband. "Do you think you'll still be able to help him?"
Lucius frowned before answering. "I don't know…obviously he has things that hadn't affected him before revealing themselves now…not to mention…" Lucius frowned as he stopped himself from saying what he was going to. '…that we had been working on the graveyard memory and the return of the Dark Lord.' Lucius thought before continuing. "We had been coming onto some difficult memories before now. This may just make everything even harder than before."

Narcissa nodded her head as she sighed and clapped her hands together and two house elves appeared. "Clean the dining room for me." She ordered before she turned towards the three males in front of her. "Look…don't say a word to the boy about his size…be supportive and if you can't control your tongue then I shall rip it out and burn it." She snapped as she glared at the Potions Master.

Snape just rolled his eyes and looked away while both Lucius and Draco paled…both knew the very real danger of that threat.

"Draco dear…I want you to go up to Harry's room and help him shrink his clothes down so that they fit him better and be kind about it." She stated calmly.

"Yes mother." Draco said as he left the room.

"Lucius you'll have to try and figure out how to help the boy with your sessions. Obviously there is more to him than we ever thought possible."

"Of course dear…I will go and research now." The Blonde man stated as he disappeared from the room, ready to be away from his wife for a little while.

"And you…" Narcissa turned to say something to the Potions master but stopped when she realized that he was no longer there. "Severus Snape where did you go!" She all but roared as she looked around the dining room and then left it…on the hunt for a slippery snake.

GUR2

"Go away Draco." Harry growled from underneath his bed, making sure that the blonde could not grab him from his hiding place. He was originally going to hit the wardrobe and hide in there but realized that the Malfoys would be able to pull him out of there easier.

Draco sighed in frustration as he ran a hand through his hair, a habit he had easily picked up from Harry, as he turned back to the wardrobe and began to pull out of all of Harry's clothes. "We have to get all of your clothes shrunk but I can't do that if you don't come out." Draco explained as he finished as Harry didn't have nearly as many clothes as he did. "Don't you want to wear clothes that fit and don't swamp you?"

Harry grumbled angrily as he began to pull himself out from underneath the bed but stopped as his bedroom door opened and closed. Two polished black shoes walked over to Draco quietly. "Where is Potter?" Snape questioned as he looked down at his godson.

"Not here." Draco replied steadily as he looked over the clothes. "What size do you think he was?" Draco questioned next.

"You lie Draco. You know exactly where Potter is." Snape said softly as he looked over the clothes before waving his wand at them, shrinking them down quite a bit. "That should fit him just fine."

"Don't you think that might be a bit small? I mean yeah…he looked like a little kid but I didn't think he was that small." Draco stated as he picked up a shirt and looked at it with a furrowed brow. The shirt looked the size for an eight year old.

"Potter was the same size he was his first year. Scrawny and all skin and bones. The boy had no fat on him at the time. Most likely a picky eater the spoiled brat. Now answer my question Draco. Where is Potter? I wish to know what is happening."

"I'm not going to tell you anything when I know that you are only going to insult him and degrade him." Draco snapped as he looked at his godfather angrily. "I remember every lesson that we had with you…I know a good portion of his dislike for potions was because of us but you attacked him more than anyone else."

"Yes I did." Snape admitted with a bow of his head. "I have my reasons for the way I acted, I will not be telling you of them."

Draco huffed at that before he shook his head and turned and waved his wands at the clothes, returning them to the wardrobe. "Whatever Sev, but do know that I will be protecting Harry. He and I have become friends so I'd appreciate it if you held back on the acerbic attitude." Draco glared at his godfather and met his eyes.

Snape scowled at that before frowning and nodding his head. Draco ignored the tingling at the front of his mind and ripped his Occlumency shields up high and tight. "I should have never taught you how to do that." Snape growled lightly.

Draco just shrugged his shoulders and he began to move out of the room. "Your fault for that, anyways let's go. I'm sure you ran away from mother before she could speak with you and I know for a fact that she'll be looking for you."

Snape huffed as he looked around the room, looking for Potter, but he didn't see him anywhere and he couldn't sense him so he left the bedroom and followed his godson back to a furious and hissing Narcissa.

Harry mean while crawled out from under the bed once he was sure that both Slytherins were way down the hall and walked over to his wardrobe. His bag that he had originally had brought his clothes in was still there and he began to fill it with some of his now shrunken clothes. "I think it's time to go to the Burrow." Harry muttered angrily as he stalked towards the doors once his bag was full, pulling on his invisibility cloak.

He stopped just at the door though and looked back at the desk where quills and parchment sat.

'A few minutes won't hurt.' Harry thought as he turned back to the desk.

GUR2

"I can't believe he went to them of all people!" Hermione screeched once more as she paced back and forth around the living room of the Burrow. Her hair seemed fizzier in her anger and her face was bright red from her yelling.

Ron could only sigh as he listened to his girlfriend rant once more. Something she had been doing since they had found out that Harry had been getting help from the Malfoys almost two weeks ago. Now they've been home for over a week and Harry had yet to show up and neither could get to Malfoy Manor…or rather…refused to go. "He had his reasons Hermione." Ron said tiredly as he was slowly but surely reaching his own limit with Hermione's shrieking.

"But how can he go back there! Back to the place where we were held and tortured and hurt!" Hermione screamed out as tears began to fall down her face and quickly covered it with her hands.

Ron frowned and quickly stood up from his seat on the couch and wrapped his arms around the bushy haired woman, tucking her head underneath his chin. "I don't know Hermione but Harry has always been stronger than us. He also always forgives easier than either of us as well." He informed softly. "Besides, Harry's strong and can handle himself, he'll be able to get in and out whenever he wants without our help. I don't doubt it."

Hermione just continued to cry into his chest while Molly and Arthur stayed in the kitchen listening to the conversation. Neither wanted to say anything as both young adults were battling their own demons as they worried for their friends…not to mention that they had their heads bitten off more times than they really wanted to.

The Burrow house was empty for the most part except for Hermione, Ron, Ginny, both Weasley parents, and then George. All of them had been depressed since their return to the Burrow and the only ones really trying to get back to normal life was the Weasley Parents and Ginny. While the couple was ranting and stalking nervously and George had yet to get out of bed.

"Do you think he'll be alright with those people?" Molly questioned as she sipped at her tea. Her own worry was reflected in her eyes and Arthur knew that the mother was panicking on the inside for the son that they had all but adopted officially into their family.

Arthur adjusted his glasses and then took a gulp of his coffee before he answered. "Harry has always been a strong boy." He started off carefully and raised his hand up when Molly went to say something. "I know that he was just a child but Harry has always taken care of himself and our own children and Hermione. He saved Ginny in her first year and went on to save and or protect the others one way or another. He even saved my life." Arthur stated confidently. "He's managed to defeat the Darkest Wizard of our time…I'm sure the Malfoys would be nothing for him to handle if he needed to."

Molly smiled at that and nodded her head in agreement just as the floo flared in the living room and a small body came tumbling out of it with a loud yelp.

The parents and then the young couple all stared at the little bundle on the floor as it struggled to sit up and when it finally did…everyone gasped in horror and surprise. "Harry!" Hermione shouted out as she dropped to her knees and engulfed the little boy in her arms. "You're okay!" She paused as she released him and looked him over slightly. "For the most part." She stated.

Harry scowled at his worried looking friend before sighing and standing up, Hermione doing the same. That was when Harry realized that he was half her size and was forced to look up even further to see her face. "For the most part." Harry agreed with an annoyed frown that actually was a pout.

"My dear merlin Harry…I…you…you're so cute!" Hermione squealed as she picked him up from the floor and hugged him tightly. "I never knew how cute you were at this age!"

"Hermione!" Harry whined while Ron from behind was laughing.

"Oh my god! If I thought it was funny before…it's hilarious now!" He roared with laughter as he fell to the ground. He was laughing so hard that he had tears in his eyes and he had to hold his sides as they began to hurt.

Harry scowled at his best friend as Hermione continued to hold onto him. "Mione, put me down please." Harry said and was happy when she did so. As soon as he was on his feet he leapt high into the air and landed directly on top of Ron's stomach, causing the red head to 'Oomph!' from the impact. "Try laughing now!" Harry stated triumphantly.

Ron lay gasping on the floor for a long moment, glaring up at Harry before a smirk took form on his face. "Oh…yeah?" he gasped out as he latched his hands onto Harry's sides and began to mercilessly tickle the little boy that was really a man.

Harry's eyes widened in horror as the sensation of being tickled really registered and then he was laughing helplessly. "No! No more!" Harry cried out as he tried to escape from his evil evil friend. "Let me go! No more!" Harry laughed harder as he fell backwards and Ron sat up so he could continue tickling his friend. "I'm going to pee my pants!"

"That's the point!" Ron cheered as he continued to tickle even more. "Come on Harry! You know you deserve to be tickle tortured for jumping on me like that." Ron stated as he spread his legs to box Harry in front of him and leaving Harry on the floor, trying to escape as tears rolled down his rosy cheeks.

"No! I don't wanna wet my pants!" Harry exclaimed as he managed to roll on his stomach and tried to crawl away but was stopped when Ron released his sides and instead ripped off his shoes and socks and attacked his feet. "NO! Not my feet!" He roared in childish laughter as he kicked out trying to get away.

"I don't think I've ever seen Harry this carefree." Molly sighed happily as she snapped another photo of the three together. Hermione had sat on the floor as she laughed at the two battle.

"I know, it's nice to see him relaxing even though it seems his illness got worse." Arthur stated with his own smile. "Make sure to make copies of those pictures Molly, Harry might want some of his own once he's better and can look back on this with a happier thought."

"No problem Arthur but I think we better step in before Harry really wets himself." She said with a laugh as she set the camera down and walked over to the three. "Alright Ron, knock it off! If you don't you'll be cleaning up the mess by hand." She threatened.

Ron instantly stopped and Harry was up on his feet and running up the stairs to get to the bathroom quickly. "Wow…I guess he really had to go." Ron said as he watched with wide eyes as Harry darted away.

"I don't doubt it Ron!" Hermione squealed at her boyfriend as she got herself under control again.

Molly and Arthur could only stand there with smiles on their faces, happy that there was some bright light to come into their house at the moment.

Especially as they knew that a real battle was going to take place once the euphoria of seeing each other safe and sound wore off and Hermione returned to her fury at her raven haired friend.

GUR2

Harry sighed in relief as he stepped out of the bathroom and turned to walk down the stairs and back to the living room. "That was a close one." He muttered just as the sound of a door opened behind him.

"Harry?" Ginny questioned with wide blinking eyes as she stared down at the little boy that was the Man-Who-Conquered.

Harry smiled nervously up at the girl and nodded his head. "Yeah, hey there Ginny." He said as he shuffled his feet nervously. Since he had shrunken he had avoided the red head like the plague to avoid anything…but now he kinda couldn't do that since he was at the Burrow.

Ginny sighed before motioning to the door the led to her room. "We need to talk Harry." She said firmly with a frown and a look in her eye that said that he had better do as she said now.

Harry sighed and nodded his head as he walked up the stairs and into the girl's room. He looked around as it was actually the first time he had ever been in there since Molly made sure that he and the other boys never got in the girls' rooms. There were two beds, obviously Hermione slept in here, and some posters and books that looked new. Probably a halfhearted attempt at redecorating after the first Burrow fell.

"What did you want to talk to me about?" Harry asked as he turned around, shoulders hunched and shuffling his feet nervously as he fidgeted with the hem of his shirt. He had known that he had needed to speak with Ginny after the war but when he had de-aged…he had avoided her like the plague, not wanting her to see him like that and now she saw him like he was now…it wasn't a very happy thought.

Ginny sighed as she walked over to her bed and sat down on it, meeting Harry's eyes as she crossed her legs. Harry noticed that she was still as tall as him as she sat down with irritation. "Harry…you look like you could be eight." She stated bluntly.

Harry scowled at that before pouting and nodding his head. "I know…I…there was an…incident at the Malfoys'…it made me revert even more." He informed, unsure of whether or not he should even mention the bat. He felt that he might explode again if he even started thinking the name of that man.

Ginny nodded her head in understanding before continuing. "I see…do you know how long it will be before you return to normal?" She questioned next, looking at him with flickering eyes.

The look in her eyes told Harry that his answer would either flare it or destroy it. Harry fidgeted as he looked away from her, already knowing what would come next. "I don't know Ginny…it could be days or months…it could be never." He admitted tiredly.

Ginny sighed once more as she stood up and tilted Harry's head up by gripping his chin between her thumb and index finger. Harry was forced to meet her sorrowful but gentle eyes before she leaned forward and kissed him on the forehead. "Then I'm afraid that this is the end of our relationship Harry." She informed sadly as she released him.

Harry gulped as he felt tears begin to build up in his eyes, not understanding why this hurt more than it had the first time. He nodded his head in understanding as he looked at her with saddened eyes, staring at her warm chocolate eyes and bright red hair.

A scream ripped through his head as a green flash of light blinded him for a moment.

"I understand." Harry said as he quickly turned and darted out of the room and up the stairs. He didn't hear Ginny call after him and assumed that she hadn't bothered to stop him, instead understanding that he didn't want to hear her reasons for why…just that she did.

He tried his hardest to stop the tears that fell down his face but couldn't so he ran into the first door he could find and slammed it behind him. He quickly fell to his butt and pulled his knees up to his chest and hid his face there. HE hated the feeling of not being wanted and he hated that he felt like he had done something wrong when he knew that he hadn't.

Ginny hadn't done anything wrong either and he knew that as well. He knew that she was tired of waiting for him and he could understand that she just wanted to keep moving forward and away from the war…something that Harry was stuck in the middle of still.

"I thought I told you guys that I didn't want to be disturbed." A hoarse voice choked out from in front of Harry, startling the little boy horribly to the point that he squeaked.

Harry looked at the lonely single bed in front of him that held a simple green blanket on it and a pillow that had a red head occupying it. "Sorry." Harry muttered out as he got onto his knees and crawled over to the bed, realizing who it was in it. "I didn't realize this was your room George."

The lump hidden under the bed moved until two eyes were staring at Harry blankly, obviously not taking Harry in fully. "Harry?" George finally questioned as he blinked his eyes several times as he looked the boy over. "You're small." He stated tiredly.

Harry smiled tiredly at that as he nodded his head. "Yeah…seems the war…it took more out of me than I thought." He admitted as he put his arms on the bed and laid his head on them. "I'm stuck like this too unless I have a Legilimens help me."

George hummed lightly before he moved an arm and his hand came out to rub at Harry's cheek. "You're crying." He stated next as he wiped some tears from Harry's cheek.

Harry gulped at that as he reached up and wiped the tears away, unaware that he had continued crying after the scare he had. "Sorry…its stupid reason to cry…but…Ginny…she broke up with me." He admitted as he continued to wipe his eyes as dry as possible. He didn't want to cry over Ginny when she was still alive…not when George was suffering from the loss of his brother who would never be by the side of his twin again.

George didn't say anything to that but he did retract his arm so that he could raise the blanket up invitingly. Harry blinked in surprise before smiling shakily, allowing his glasses fall to the floor, and then climbing into the bed with the other.

George shifted enough so that both he and Harry were on their sides, his arms wrapped around the raven and Harry's head underneath George's chin. Both settled easily as they became comfortable before falling asleep, comforted by the warmth next to them and knowing that there was another that was experiencing similar pain if not entirely the same.

GUR2

"Draco, have you found him yet?" Narcissa questioned worriedly as her son came back into the library where she, Lucius, and Severus were all sitting and waiting for her son. None of them had been able to find Harry after the disastrous confrontation between him and Severus.

Draco shook his head in the negative as he held up a piece of parchment. "Not Harry, no, but he did leave us a note." He informed as he held it out to his mother as he approached her.

Narcissa sighed as she took the note and read it over. "It seems that he does have manners after all." She stated with amusement gleaming in her eyes as she handed it to her husband next.

"So it seems." Lucius stated with his own amusement as he handed it to Severus.

Snape read it over quickly and sneered at the letter. "I do not know how you believe that this shows that he has manners. It shows a blatant disrespect and arrogance. Just like his father." He stated angrily as he tossed the parchment on the table that sat between he and the Malfoy family.

"Really Severus, he's only rude to you. To us he has told us not only where he is going but an estimated time of a return. Not to mention that he apologized for the fact that he reacted so dismally to your return and the damage to the manor." Narcissa said as she sipped at her tea.

"Not to mention he offered to pay for the repairs…not that he's going to have to…easy fixes really." Lucius put in between his own sips of his tea.

"Calling you a bastard bat filled with a child's misery and woe and the slimy gunk found in between a trolls toes was rather creative in my opinion." Draco added as he looked at his nails. "I didn't think Harry had it in him to come up with such…descriptive insults."

Snape sneered at the Malfoy family and stood up from his seat. "I see that I am outnumbered here." He stated as he nodded at the family angrily. "I shall take my leave as there are still quite a few things that I must take care of…until we meet again." With that Severus Snape turned on his heel with his robes billowing behind him dramatically all the way.

"He hasn't lost that dramatic flair of his." Narcissa commented as soon as Snape was out of earshot.

"No he hasn't." Lucius agreed.

"When is he going to teach me to do that!?" Draco whined.

GUR2

A.N. So what do you guys think so far? Interesting yet. Also yes I know that Hermione switched from being angry to happy in a flash. It's the stress of the situations that she was forced into affecting her entirely now. The same will happen with many more to come as well. Not everyone but a good handful of people.

Let me all know what you think. Until next time! Review Review and review!